GABRIEL

The nobleman placed a gentle kiss on her hand. "You can address me as Gabriel, mademoiselle". She looked up at him, her eyes wide with surprise and confusion. She had never experienced such a gesture before. Was it a sign of respect? A gesture of admiration? Or something else entirely? As she tried to make sense of the situation, she caught a glimpse of her childhood friend out of the corner of her eye. Memories of their carefree days together came flooding back, and she felt a pang of guilt for forgetting about him even for a moment. She realized that while the nobleman was a stranger to her, her friend was someone who had been a part of her life for as long as she could remember. She wants to find out what he has been up to all these years. Meanwhile, she turned her attention back to the nobleman and tried to make small talk, hoping to get to know him better and understand his intentions.

As the conversation continued, the nobleman seemed to be trying to get closer to the girl. He was charming and polite, and she couldn't help but feel a sense of attraction towards him.

The nobleman continued to make small talk, dropping hints that he was interested in getting to know her better. She couldn't help but feel flattered by his attention, but at the same time, she wasn't sure if she was ready to open her heart for him. She decided to take things slow and get to know him better before jumping into anything.

As the night went on, the girl couldn't help but think about her childhood friend. She wondered what he had been up to all these years and if he was still the same person she remembered. Gabriel, being the gentleman he was, smiled gently at Mrs. Aurora when she arrived. 

Grace felt a bit left out during their conversation, she was also a bit annoyed that her mother was reminiscing about their childhood memories, instead of paying attention to the present. 

The conversation between the nobleman and the girl progressed, and he began to show a keen interest in her personal life. He asked her about her friends, but the way he asked made her feel uncomfortable and uneasy. She sensed a possessive undertone in his voice and wondered if he was prying into her personal affairs. Although she tried to answer his questions politely, she couldn't shake off the feeling that he was trying to gather information about her. She wondered if he had an ulterior motive or if it was just his curiosity. Instantly, the Gabriel invited Grace to a party he was hosting the following day. He told her that it would be a small gathering of his friends and colleagues and that she would be a welcome addition to the group. The girl felt a sense of excitement at the prospect of attending the party and meeting new people. However, she also felt a sense of caution and wondered if it was wise to accept the invitation from someone she barely knew. Grace decided to take some time to think about it and told the nobleman that she would let him know her decision soon.